Project Spotlight

Initiative Description

Apartnership crosses learning in “classroom and community settings.”

“The project was about sharing the research that my research partner and I have been doing about the history of the national Welfare Rights Organization, and sharing about how our research partnership had worked.”

We aimed to share the history of marginalized and oppressed women of color leading the nation successfully to policy changes in social service provision. We hoped that the form of our research partnership would expose students to the kinds of relationships they can build in their communities. Students were active participants.

Initiative Impact

ASU students were exposed to the antiracist nature of welfare organizing.

“You wouldn't think of poor people having their own glossary.This glossary gives definitions and terms that you can understand and people study and use today… uplifting the organizing models that we found… this movement itself was was anti-racist, and women were very adamant.And you don't hear that because of the role of a lot of academics who have told this story. They tried to leave out how anti-racist it was…. So having folks like Colleen, and being able to bring that into, the classroom and told differently is just very important.And then showing that these women study and continue to teach today.”

What’s next?

Collaborative work continues between the grantees.

“We plan to continue working individually and collaboratively in this way...One additional area of impact and next steps relates to the position of Neely Visiting Professor of Religion and Public Policy. Designed as a rotating position, the collaboration with the IDEAteam to use the visiting professorship to deepen inclusion, equity, and access in SPAand Watts. SPAappreciated the mini grant for this project and are encouraged to future visiting professors can look for similar relationships within their area of specialization.”